Ofsted: Good trending_up Places Available emoji_events #14 in Central Bedfordshire public Top 60% UK

Ardley Hill Academy

verifiedData: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

personHeadteacher Stephen Fox

corporate_fareCHILTERN LEARNING TRUST

location_onDunstable, LU6 3NZ

language Visit Website phone 1582667955

verified

Ofsted

Good

Inspected 2024

groups

Students

454

school

Expected Standard

60%

local_fire_department

Demand Ratio

0.9x

summarize

Ardley Hill Academy is a Academy converter primary school in Dunstable, serving ages 2-11. Rated Good by Ofsted. Ranks in the top 60% of primary schools nationally.

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School Summary

Ardley Hill Academy is an academy converter in Dunstable, Central Bedfordshire, admitting pupils aged 2-11. It is part of CHILTERN LEARNING TRUST. The school has approximately 461 pupils on roll, of whom 12% are eligible for free school meals.

In 2025, 60% of pupils met the expected standard in Reading, Writing and Maths combined, with 3% achieving the higher standard. The school ranks #14 of 36 primaries in Central Bedfordshire and #8,850 of 14,143 nationally.

Ofsted last inspected the school in 2024. The school's current overall rating is Good. Inspectors assessed quality of education as Good, behaviour and attitudes Good, personal development Good, and leadership and management Good.

In the most recent admissions cycle, applications were at 0.9× capacity.

The pupil-to-qualified-teacher ratio is 27.6:1. There are no current teaching vacancies.

In the 2024/25 academic year, there were no permanent exclusions. The average suspension rate was 0.8 per 1,000 pupils per term.

verified Source: DfE 2024/25–2025/26 · Ofsted

Academic Performance

verified Data: UK Gov 2024/25

school

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

2025

R/W/M Expected Standard

60%

LA 50%

Reading71% LA 68%

Writing78% LA 62%

Maths69% LA 62%

Read SS

105

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2024

R/W/M Expected Standard

42%

LA 49%England 61%

Reading63% LA 68% · Eng 74%

Writing52% LA 61% · Eng 72%

Maths67% LA 62% · Eng 73%

Read SS

103

Maths SS

102

GPS SS

103

Progress (0 = national avg)

Read

Write

Maths

2023

R/W/M Expected Standard

60%

LA 48%England 60%

Reading78% LA 67% · Eng 73%

Writing70% LA 61% · Eng 71%

Maths72% LA 63% · Eng 73%

Read SS

106

Maths SS

104

GPS SS

104

Progress (0 = national avg)

0.2

Read

LA -1.4

-1.5 to 1.8

-0.8

Write

LA -2.4

-2.4 to 0.7

-1.0

Maths

LA -2.0

-2.5 to 0.5

2019

R/W/M Expected Standard

53%

LA 57%England 65%

Reading65% LA 66% · Eng 73%

Writing80% LA 71% · Eng 78%

Maths65% LA 69% · Eng 79%

Read SS

102

Maths SS

101

GPS SS

102

Progress (0 = national avg)

-2.3

Read

LA -2.0

-4.0 to -0.6

1.3

Write

LA -2.1

-0.2 to 2.9

-3.1

Maths

LA -2.3

-4.5 to -1.6

2018

R/W/M Expected Standard

30%

LA 55%

Reading52% LA 66%

Writing53% LA 70%

Maths42% LA 65%

Read SS

100

Maths SS

GPS SS

101

Progress (0 = national avg)

-3.4

Read

LA -2.2

-5.2 to -1.6

-3.1

Write

LA -1.9

-4.8 to -1.4

-4.4

Maths

LA -2.1

-6 to -2.8

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Report Archive

16 July 2024

Inspection Report

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22 February 2022

Inspection Report

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05 May 2021

Inspection Report

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10 February 2021

Inspection Report

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26 March 2019

Inspection Report

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24 April 2018

Inspection Report

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11 October 2016

Inspection Report

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03 March 2016

Inspection Report

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10 August 2012

Inspection Report

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Inspection Report

Inspection History

7 Evaluations

2024-07-16

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 3 EIF

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Good

2022-02-22

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 2 EIF

Requires improvement

Education

Requires improvement

Behaviour

Good

Development

Good

Leadership

Requires improvement

2019-03-26

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2018-04-24

Requires Improvement S5 Reinspection Visit 1 Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2016-10-11

None Legacy

No Judgement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

2016-03-03

None Legacy

Requires improvement

Education

No Judgement

Behaviour

No Judgement

Development

No Judgement

Leadership

Requires improvement

2011-10-04

None Legacy

Good

Education

Good

Behaviour

Development

Leadership

Good

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

gavel

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Official Department for Education (DfE) data. Suspensions measure temporary removals due to behavior, while exclusions represent permanent removals.

Suspension Rate

0.9%per term

warning Above Average

National average: 0.8% for this term (primary).

Pupils Suspended 1+ Times

0.7%(3 pupils)

Spring term 2025

Represents the proportion of unique students suspended at least once in this term.

Permanent Exclusions

0pupils

verified Excellent (Zero)

National average: 1.225% of pupils excluded per term.

Pastoral Context: In the Spring term of 2025, this school served a headcount of 461 pupils. During this period, there were 4 temporary suspensions. The school's suspension rate was 0.9%, which is above the termly national average of 0.8%.

View Historical Disciplinary Records (2017–2025)keyboard_arrow_down

Year / Term	Headcount	Suspensions	Susp. Rate	Nat. Avg	Perm. Excl.
2024/25 (Spring term)	461	4	0.9%	0.8%	0
2024/25 (Autumn term)	455	3	0.7%	0.9%	0
2023/24 (Summer term)	474	2	0.4%	0.8%	0
2023/24 (Spring term)	459	14	3.1%	0.7%	0
2023/24 (Autumn term)	433	5	1.2%	0.8%	0
2022/23 (Summer term)	466	4	0.9%	0.7%	0
2022/23 (Spring term)	454	7	1.5%	0.6%	0
2022/23 (Autumn term)	429	4	0.9%	0.6%	0
2021/22 (Summer term)	460	9	2.0%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Spring term)	459	5	1.1%	0.5%	0
2021/22 (Autumn term)	456	7	1.5%	0.5%	1
2020/21 (Summer term)	491	5	1.0%	0.4%	0
2020/21 (Spring term)	471	3	0.6%	0.1%	0
2020/21 (Autumn term)	452	11	2.4%	0.4%	0
2019/20 (Summer term)	489	0	0.0%	0.0%	0
2019/20 (Spring term)	489	11	2.2%	0.4%	1
2019/20 (Autumn term)	474	22	4.6%	0.6%	0
2018/19 (Summer term)	529	28	5.3%	0.4%	1
2018/19 (Spring term)	519	22	4.2%	0.5%	0
2018/19 (Autumn term)	507	22	4.3%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Summer term)	522	16	3.1%	0.5%	0
2017/18 (Spring term)	513	10	1.9%	0.4%	0
2017/18 (Autumn term)	491	12	2.4%	0.5%	1
2016/17 (Summer term)	499	20	4.0%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Spring term)	490	15	3.1%	0.4%	0
2016/17 (Autumn term)	467	9	1.9%	0.5%	1

Source: DfE Suspensions and Permanent Exclusions in England. Data represents termly statistics as published by the Department for Education.

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Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Primary areas of need currently supported by the school. A high number often indicates specialized internal units or high staff experience in these areas.

Speech, Language & Communication 20 pupils

Social, Emotional & Mental Health 19 pupils

Moderate Learning Difficulty 10 pupils

Specific Learning Difficulty 6 pupils

Autistic Spectrum Disorder 4 pupils

Visual Impairment 1 pupils

Other Difficulty/Disability 1 pupils

health_and_safety

Parent View on Pastoral Care

Results from the official Ofsted Parent View survey, reflecting direct parent sentiment regarding the school environment.

My child is happy at this school.

93.0%Positive

My child feels safe at this school.

92.0%Positive

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

17.0%Positive

View All Survey Responseskeyboard_arrow_down

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

strongly agree41%

agree42%

disagree9%

strongly disagree3%

don't know5%

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

strongly agree60%

agree36%

disagree3%

strongly disagree1%

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

strongly agree26%

agree23%

disagree8%

strongly disagree6%

don't know2%

not applicable34%

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

yes26%

no74%

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

strongly agree36%

agree31%

disagree13%

strongly disagree18%

dont know2%

The school has high expectations for my child.

strongly agree39%

agree42%

disagree9%

strongly disagree2%

don't know8%

My child does well at this school.

strongly agree51%

agree37%

disagree8%

strongly disagree3%

don't know1%

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

strongly agree46%

agree43%

disagree7%

strongly disagree2%

don't know2%

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

strongly agree51%

agree41%

disagree1%

strongly disagree2%

don't know5%

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

strongly agree54%

agree36%

disagree4%

strongly disagree3%

don't know3%

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

strongly agree44%

agree39%

disagree6%

strongly disagree5%

don't know5%

I would recommend this school to another parent.

yes85%

no15%

Top Primary Schools in Central Bedfordshire

Other highly-ranked schools in the same local authority

View all arrow_forward

The Vale Academy

Requires improvement

location_on Dunstable, LU5 4QP

emoji_events #1 in LA

Lark Rise Academy

Outstanding

location_on Dunstable, LU6 3PT

emoji_events #2 in LA

Clifton All Saints Academy

Good

location_on Near Shefford, SG17 5ES

emoji_events #3 in LA

Raynsford Church of England Academy

Good

location_on Henlow, SG16 6AT

emoji_events #4 in LA

Derwent Primary School

Good

location_on Henlow, SG16 6BA

emoji_events #5 in LA

Slip End Village School

Good

location_on Luton, LU1 4DD

emoji_events #6 in LA

View all schools in Central Bedfordshire arrow_forward

School Summary

Academic Performance

Primary Performance Trends (KS2)

Ofsted History

Publication Timeline

Inspection History

Admissions Insight

How Places Are Allocated

Distance to School

School Capacity

Primary Admission Trends

Students & School Environment

School Size

Language Diversity

Inclusive Support

Attendance

Ethnicity Breakdown

Wellbeing, SEN & Pastoral Care

Behaviour & Discipline (Suspensions & Exclusions)

Supported Special Educational Needs (SEN)

Parent View on Pastoral Care

My child is happy at this school.

My child feels safe at this school.

My child has been bullied and the school dealt with the bullying quickly and effectively.

The school makes sure its pupils are well behaved.

The school makes me aware of what my child will learn during the year.

When I have raised concerns with the school they have been dealt with properly

Does your child have special educational needs and/or disabilities (SEND)?

My child has special educational needs and/or disabilities, and the school gives them the support they need to succeed.

The school has high expectations for my child.

My child does well at this school.

The school lets me know how my child is doing.

There is a good range of subjects available to my child at this school.

My child can take part in clubs and activities at this school.

The school supports my child's wider personal development.

I would recommend this school to another parent.

Funding & Staffing

School Funding Allocation

Funding Breakdown

Staffing

Teacher Turnover

Top Primary Schools in Central Bedfordshire

The Vale Academy

Lark Rise Academy

Clifton All Saints Academy

Raynsford Church of England Academy

Derwent Primary School

Slip End Village School